Michele Bachmann: Health Care Law "Crown Jewel of Socialism"

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

/ AP

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Republican and founder of the Tea Party Caucus in the House, today cast last year's health care reform law - "Obamacare" to its critics - as "the crown jewel of socialism."

The controversial Bachmann, who is said to be considering a 2012 presidential run, made the comments during debate on a bill to repeal the health care legislation. The repeal bill is expected to easily pass the GOP-led House but stall in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Bachmann and her colleagues insist, however, that the vote is not just symbolic, and she vowed yesterday that "we aren't going to just check the box off and say we had one vote and we're going to move on to other topics." Pointing to what she called the "arrogance" of Democrats, she said Republicans would work in the short term to defund the bill so that it cannot effectively be implemented.

In her remarks on the floor Wednesday afternoon, Bachmann said the health care law - which does not include a government option - amounted to "socialized medicine."

"The American people spoke soundly and clearly at the ballot box in November and they said to us, Mr. Speaker, in no uncertain terms, repeal this bill," she continued. "So today, this body will cast a vote to repeal Obamacare and to those across the United States who think this may be a symbolic act, we have a message for them. This is not symbolic, this is why we were sent here and we will not stop until we repeal a president and put a president in the position of the White House who will repeal this bill, until we repeal the current Senate, put in a Senate that will listen to the American people and repeal this bill."

Added Bachmann: "Because what has been the result, Mr. Speaker? It's been this. It's been job loss, it's been increases on cost to the American people, I've seen everything from 26 percent increases on health insurance, to 45 percent increases on health insurance. This will break the bank. And we won't let that happen to our country. So make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, we are here to stay and our resolve is firm. We will continue this fight until Obamacare is no longer the law of the land and until we can actually pass reform that will cut the cost of health care."

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the repeal bill would actually increase the budget deficit by $230 billion over a decade, though Republicans maintain that the estimate does not take into account all of the costs of the measure.

[Whitey_Lawful]

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the 'crown jewel of socialism'.

[Ohgahd]

Gee, and after all of this time I thot it was Social
Security!!

[tbogert]

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/o/obama-palestine-refugees.htm

[johngarvey]

Although I am a strong Obama supporter, I disagree with pointing fingers at W. Bush. Obama's success or failure will be due to his accomplishments or setbacks, and I know that a positive future is waiting for all of us.

[johngarvey]

I remember candidate Obama's promise to close Guantonamo and leave Irao, and bring respect to the US economy

[levelheadedtoo]

Unfortunately, the Bush administration in their rush to invade Iraq didn't have a plan for getting out. They brought some of the most dangerous people in the world to Guantonamo and then the GOP has made it almost impossible to move them out because the countries they came from don't want them back. So don't even try to spin that problem onto Obama.

However, the prisoners at Guantonamo are getting the best health care America can provide. Much better treatment than the GOP has planned for you and I.

[Red_feather]

0bama is building permanent basis in Afganistan and american soldiers will not be leaving. Debt soon to be 15 trillion by March 2011. He has sent more than a billion total to Hamas, a known terrorist group.

[levelheadedtoo]

And furthermore, GOP members of congress stumped yesterday about how health care would force small business to stall hiring if the health care bill stands. They failed to mention that businesses with 50 or fewer employees are exempt, and business over 50, not providing health insurance, would have a significant tax subsidy to add employees to a plan. Congress pointed out the the new health plan would loose 650,000 jobs (GAO), however, failed to add the theses were all people that could retire if not anchored to their current employer paid health plan. People can't retire because they can't afford to get sick in America. Thanks GOP for not filling all the blanks.

A few weeks ago the GOP boogyman was tax breaks for the wealthy. If they didn't get their tax break extended they wouldn't hire more people. Well they won't hire more people unless it is a personal trainer, nanny, lawn service or maid.

Wall Street firms are reporting Billions in bonuses again, banks Billions in new profits, oil Billions in profits. While we are offered .25% interest on a money market as a savings incentive. Thanks GOP

[johngarvey]

As a democrat, I support President Obama. However, as a former salesperson during two of my high school years, and three of my college years, am I prone to fall for whatever sales pitch is thrown my way ? Meaning, if an Obama supporter is telling me an insurance coverage that covers all is the direction we should take, or do I believe the republican, who tells me a position that I do not understand? CBS, or any other supplier of news, knowing that these news organisations will probably be biased towards the companies who advertise with them. My conclusion is that I give up. I surrender to the ME!!! because I hope to make decisions that better myself.

[coreymondell]

HYPOCRITES

Republican Conservative Christian Rep. Bachmann's clinic takes in thousands from "socialized medicine" 5-17-2010
http://www.americanindependent.com/9517/bachmann%E2%80%99s-clinic-takes-in-thousands-from-%E2%80%9Csocialized-medicine%E2%80%9D

Two Santa Clauses or How The Republican Party Has Conned America for 30 Years, Thom Hartmann: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

The Two Santa Claus Theory, David Dayen,: http://www.calitics.com/diary/8718/the-two-santa-claus-theory

Red State, Republican, T-Bag, "Right-wing" & Conservative Christian Hypocrisy:

11-7-2008 Republican Conservative Christian Sarah Palin enthusiastically practices socialism, Alaska-style: http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/581484.html

3-22-2009 Red State Socialism and the Politics of Stimulus: http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/001439.htm

6-29-2010 Republicans Object To Bill For Homeless Veterans: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/29/republicans-object-to-bil_n_629332.html

7-30-2010 Republicans block healthcare for 9/11 first responders: http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2010/07/30/house-republicans-block-bill-to-pay-the-healthcare-for-ill-911-responders/

8-19-2010 While it was fashionable to run on anti-federal government platforms this campaign cycle, it is hard to ignore that Alaska has a notorious love-hate relationship with federal cash. And many might say that the relationship, for the large part, actually falls more on the "love" side: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/business/19stimulus.html

9-20-2010 Alaska Republican-Tea Party Conservative Christian Senate candidate Joe Miller, who claims Government is too big and Socialism is bad, admits taking farm subsidies: http://alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/politics/6880-alaska-senate-candidate-joe-miller-admits-taking-farm-subsidies

9-23-2010 What the Conservative do not talk about publicly when on Sept. 23 2010, presenting to the world the 'Pledge For America' is that VA Hospitals will be Privatized and Veterans will be forced To buy Insurance: http://mediamatters.org/research/201009230020

9-28-2010 Anti-Government Tea Partier Conservative Christian Sharron Angle Gets Health Care from the Federal Government: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/09/28/anti-government-tea-partier-sharron-angle-gets-health-care-from-the-federal-government/

10-5-2010 Joe Miller also thinks federal unemployment insurance is constitutionally questionable. But it turns out his wife benefited from it in the early part of the decade -- after she left a job working for him: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/joe-millers-wife-received-unemployment-benefits-miller-called-not-constitutionally-authorized.php

10-9-2010 Joe Miller also relied on technicalities to obtain a low-income hunting and fishing license from the state of Alaska: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/homeowning-lawyer-joe-miller-sought-low-income-hunting-and-fishing-license-in-alaska.php

10-25-2010 Despite Saying Government Intervention Puts Industry In A 'Coma,' Raese's Biz Takes Millions In Taxpayer Funds - http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/25/raese-government-contracts/

11-1-2010 Pundits Wrong on Slashing Military Benefits - Decisions to cut military retirement benefits have a real impact on people who selflessly sacrificed the prime of their lives to serve a greater good, unless you are a Conservative/Republican: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/11/01/pundits-wrong-on-slashing-military-benefits/comment-page-1/#comment-131609

11-15-2010 GOP/Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada who railed against healthcare and earmarks got $960,000 healthcare earmark: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/revealed-republican-senator-railed-healthcare-earmarks-960000-healthcare-earmark/

11-15-2010 Conservative Republican Andy Harris, an anesthesiologist Maryland physician elected to Congress on an anti-Obamacare platform surprised fellow freshmen at a Monday orientation session by demanding to know why his government-subsidized health care plan takes a month to kick in: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45181.html

11-19-2010 They Got (Way) Richer, And You Didn't. Tell Us Again Why Socialism Is Bad?: http://www.commondreams.org/further/2010/11/19-1

Socialism is good for the wealthy politicians of the USA, just ask these 114 folks, (mostly Republicans, Conservative Christians and or T-Party members): Stimulating Hypocrisy: 114 Lawmakers Block Recovery While Taking Credit For Its Success: http://thinkprogress.org/touting-recovery-opposed/

The Most Hypocritical States are Usually "Red": http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2193/1/?newsmaker=109&redirectURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailybeast.com%2Fgalleries%2Fnewsmaker%2Fpolitics%2F

[levelheadedtoo]

Great post. Hits the nail on the head.

[levelheadedtoo]

Congress woman Giffords is experiencing what the Public Option does for health care. When a Doctor no longer has a profit motive, as the sole purpose for treating people, the care can be fantastic. Michele Bachmann, has the same health care plan, however, she feels the people of America shouldn't have equal access. Those of you opposed to a national health plan, consider where you would be today under your health plan if you were in Giffords shoes. 90% of us would be fertilizer.

Can anyone confirm the names of any member of congress, voting against health care, that has refused their government provided health insurance?

[fransway]

Another wacko beauty queen with the same old the hog call. Hope she gets trampled under those cloven hooves.

[YrWrongAgain]

Who wasted more of his life, Gus Hall or Sam Webb?

[nearl451]

The healthcare bill is "socialist" toward the Healthcare Insurance companies the same as GWB's policies were "socialist" toward big oil.

Theproper term is Corporatist, not socialist.

[Red_feather]

Good analogy.